WINTER MEETING, 1877. 21 



I propose to discuss this matter of pruning only in reference to the time \vhen 

 to do it and tlie object or end to be attained. 



I tlius narrow tlic subject because of too many demands upon my time and 

 because in respect to those two points tlicre is most injudicious work done. 



As to the time to prune I tliink many persons err in practice when, tlieoreti- 

 cally, they believe they are not taking the very best season, but they do it in 

 spring because they then have about more or less of orchard work and they 

 like to finish it. 



I have cut at all times of the year, and find no worse time than spring, and 

 just that point in the season when buds begin to swell or immediately before. 

 Pruning peach and cherry at that time is especially unfortunate. We wish to 

 see ail cuts commence to heal precisely at the point of section, but, if done 

 at that time the bark is a])t to die back, more or less, from the cut making a 

 larger scar to heal over. Where shortening in is practiced, it is important to 

 be able to depend upon any particular bud you may want to partially change 

 the direction wliicli some of the leading shoots are taking; but, if done at the 

 time mentioned you cannot rely upon the bud Jiearest the end. It may take 

 the lead, but it will as often be the second, perhaps the third and, sometimes, 

 even the fourth bud will make the shoot. So the direction the limbs will take 

 becomes a matter of uncertainty; and, it sometimes happens, too, that the 

 end bud makes a faint start, the second one comes a little stronger, while the 

 third will push out vigorously and outstrip the others ; which is, of course, 

 unsatisfactory. 



There is a better season for this kind of work as well as for larger cutting, 

 and, though I will indicate what I believe is the best time, I shall not under- 

 take to give the physiological reasons -wliy one time is better or worse than 

 another. Because I believe wo have not that definite knowledge of the times 

 and ways in which the various organs perform their functions which is neces- 

 sary to account for the phenomena observed in pruning. I will therefore 

 speak of the results only as the ground for my preference. 



A fortnight before midsummer is recommended by one of our best authori- 

 ties on pomological subjects as being practically the best time for pruning; 

 while another excellent authority claims that pruning should be suspended until 

 the trees have completed their growth by extension and formed the terminal 

 bud at the ends of their shoots. These two authorities hardly refer to the 

 same date because the trees, under ordinary circumstances, do not set their 

 terminal buds a fortnight before midsummer. There is a tune in the summer 

 when pruning can be done without apparent injury ; that time is not any spe- 

 cific date but depends on the stage of growth of the tree, which is varied by 

 early and late springs, by wet and dry seasons, by cultivation, by manures and 

 by sterility; and it will vary among different trees on tlie same plat. 



The manifestations of a season's growth vary as the season progresses ; the 

 activity of sap, the swelling buds, opening leaves and blossoms, the longitudi- 

 nal growth and multiplication of leaves, the development of wood and blossom 

 buds for the following season and the formation of the cambium layers, which 

 last takes place, mainly, after the longitudinal extension has ceased. 



Perhaps a tree pruned at the most favorable summer stage will show as good 

 results as at any other season ; but the difficulty of determining just when it 

 should be done is apparent. I have seen unsatisfactory results from summer 

 pruning manifested in two ways ; from exudation of sap which sometimes con- 

 tinues through two seasons, and, also, by an apparent unripeness of the cam- 

 bium layer in the vicinity of the cut, as manifeste<l by winter killing when 



